4003-341 Professional Communications

Professor R. Canosa, Ph.D.

General Course Policies

Course Goals:

This course is designed to help students improve their ability to communicate with others in a professional setting. Several different modes of communication are presented, including written and oral communication, group interaction, and interpersonal dynamics. Students will have a chance to practice all of these modes and will demonstrate and critique effective communication techniques via a variety of exercises and assignments.

Course Outcomes:

1. Students will be able to recognize and identify common formats and required elements for typical documents (such as technical or progress reports, email or memos, proposals, user documents, resumes, and cover letters) and for presentations. Assessed by class assignments.
2. Students will be able to explain, summarize key features, and provide detailed instructions related to using typical software tools. Assessed by class assignments.
3. Students will be able to apply models for typical, professional-level documents to the development of similar documents. Assessed by class assignments.
4. Students will be able to communicate with group members, conduct effective group meetings, and explain possible techniques for dealing with uncooperative group members. Assessed by group projects and class assignments.
5. Students will be able to explain basic purposes for any form of communication, typical strategies for achieving their purpose, and factors that should be considered when analyzing a potential audience. Assessed by class assignments.
6. Students will demonstrate their analytical, listening, and critiquing skills. Assessed by peer reviews and critiques of in-class presentations.

Topics include:

• Models or theories of communication
• Examples of professional communications
• Personality assessment
• Effective memo writing
• Cover letter and resume development
• Software user documentation
• Individual presentations
• Group presentations
• Workplace interpersonal dynamics

Class Rules:

• All assignments must be neatly typed and printed on white 8.5 x 11 inch paper, unless otherwise noted.
• Assignments are due at the beginning of class, once class begins it is late! Thereafter, at midnight it is one more day late.
• Late penalty is 10% off the maximum grade for an assignment, for each day late.
• For each class missed, 1 point is deducted from your final grade point average (deducted from class participation points).
• Presentations require professional attire! This means ties, slacks, and reasonable shoes for men; dress, blouse and skirt, or business suit for women. Part of your grade will be based on your professional appearance during presentations.
• All email is sent to your CS account. If you use another account, you must set up forwarding from your CS account to your other account.

Anecdotes:

Groups:

There will be several assignments, some of which will require you to work with others as part of a group consisting of 3 or 4 people. Group members will be assigned during the second week of the quarter. The purpose of the group is to implement a collaborative learning environment. You are expected to meet with your group members at various times during the quarter to discuss and plan some of the assignments, and to critique various drafts of each other's work. You will also plan and give a presentation with your group on a technical topic. Some class time will be set aside for you to meet with your group members, however you should also plan on meeting outside of class.

Review Forms:

• Job Materials Draft Review Form
• Job Materials Self Review Form
• Individual Presentation Evaluation Form
• User Document Draft Review Form
• User Document Self Review Form
• Group Presentation Evaluation Form
• Group Self Review Form

Individual Presentation Schedule

Group Presentation Schedule